So were my questions about the "wedge-shape hyperenhancing areas in the right hepatic lobe consistent with perfusional anomalies" that she refused to answer. I am so sorry I have put my husband through all this. We would have been better off staying at MGH.

Oh, absolutely it is his decision. I have been as neutral with him as Switzerland for the past few days. Laid out what I know and what I don't know and the ball is in his court. I feel awful bringing him there, though, and I know I won't be able to forgive myself if things go sideways. The risks are incredibly high, and I pray that those "wedge-shape hyperenhancing areas in the right hepatic lobe consistent with perfusional anomalies" that Dr. Kemeny did not like being asked about are not there anymore (despite the fact that they are somewhat still visible on the MRI CDs from MGH I have viewed) and won't increase the [life threatening, e.g. cholangitis] risks to 20%.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Your husband is a very lucky man to have you by his side as a strong advocate. All of your questions are great legit questions. I do hope your doctor or doctor’s staff will be answering them. (Pls do share if you get them) One way or another, he will be NED after surgery. With pump, we pray for no liver or bile ducts complications, if no pump, we try our best with good supplements and/or mop up and/or maintenance chemo to prevent recurrence.

Ultra low CA199, less than 2 units, means that cimetidine cannot not do any good as a long term treatment. I'm not sure about a minimal short course for perioperative, e.g. 800 mg for 5-10 days (BSA for 100 kg). Time to stop the long term cimetidine program. i'd revisit the previous surgeon's Celebrex/celecoxib reasoning for pre-op.

This is why tests done, reported and discussed, sooner than later, are important. Damn the obstructions, -ists everybody, it is up to us. One could have had two years of insight and potential benefit from some other chemistry(s) if the gastroenterologist, surgeon or onc pulled their heads out. Otherwise we have make it a priority, and get it done ourselves.

rp1954 wrote:This is why tests done, reported and discussed, sooner than later, are important. Damn the obstructions, -ists everybody, it is up to us. One could have had two years of insight and potential benefit from some other chemistry(s) if the gastroenterologist, surgeon or onc pulled their heads out. Otherwise we have make it a priority, and get it done ourselves.

Eight hour surgery. He’s still in recovery so I haven’t seen him yet. Here’s what we got: rapid onsite specimen evaluation (biopsy) of caudate lobe tumor - benign; of the one suspicious tumor - cancer; nearby that one is two other tumors, too deep to biopsy so were ablated (therefore never know if cancer or not); and another that was resected and later biopsied. Pump placed and flow scan looks good. There was one spot that was leaking outside the liver but D’Angelica was able to ligate that. So, all in all there was one met, two unknowns, and one we will find out. He’s spending the night in the PACU so he will have good continuous careful monitoring throughout the night.

mpbser wrote:Eight hour surgery. He’s still in recovery so I haven’t seen him yet. Here’s what we got: rapid onsite specimen evaluation (biopsy) of caudate lobe tumor - benign; of the one suspicious tumor - cancer; nearby that one is two other tumors, too deep to biopsy so were ablated (therefore never know if cancer or not); and another that was resected and later biopsied. Pump placed and flow scan looks good. There was one spot that was leaking outside the liver but D’Angelica was able to ligate that. So, all in all there was one met, two unknowns, and one we will find out. He’s spending the night in the PACU so he will have good continuous careful monitoring throughout the night.

Thank you for update. A lot to take in.. I hope that he can rest without pain & recover and that you(!) also can get some rest. Sending healing thoughts !